Kenneth Woods

WOODS Kenneth Woods LCDR (Ret.) of Luther Woods Convalescent Center, died Wednesday, August 10, 2011. He was 86. Born in Philadelphia, PA, he was the son of the late Michael and Emma Woods (Langrebe). He was preceded in death by brothers: Robert, Joseph, William; and a sister Jeanne (Desher). Ken was originally from the Juniata Park section of Philadelphia and of Kenner, Lousiana. A 1943 graduate of Frankford High school and the U.S. Naval Academy class of 1947. A hurricane Katrina survivor, he returned to Pennsylvania in 2005 and resided in Jamison, Bucks County. Upon leaving the Naval Academy and prior to attending Submarine School, Ken served onboard the USS Houston (CL-81), USS Coral Sea (CVB-43), and the USS LST 912. Upon completion of his surface assignments, he attended, and graduated from, the U.S. Naval Submarine School at New London, CT. His first submarine assignments were on USS Tilefish (SS-307), USS Stickleback (SS-415), Executive Officer on USS Sea Cat (SS-399), and Commanding Officer of the USS Sea Lion (APSS-315). In 1960 he was chosen to plan and execute a unique two-year oceanographic survey that extended from the Arctic Ocean to the South Pacific. By a masterpiece of good planning, Ken negotiated with COMSUBLANT for an all bachelor crew. His reasoning was sound, the ship was to operate almost continuously away from home port and the undue strain this would place on families would also place a strain on the operation of the ship. The bachelor make-up of the crew gave rise to a reputation for the ship that tended to overshadow her very real accomplishments. During two years of survey work under his command, Archerfish took more ocean gravity readings than all other surveys combined since Fridtjof Nansen took the first readings on the Fram in 1903. After Ken left Archerfish in 1962 he went to the Board of Inspection and Survey, a tour in Germany, and then to shore duty in Naples. Upon completing his naval career Ken returned stateside to reside in Connecticut where he held various jobs before his final career with Houston Marine in Kenner, Louisiana. For over 20 years he helped mariners obtain Coast Guard licenses. He was employed full time until his middle 70s and then continued at Houston Marine on a part time basis. Surviving are his children: Kenneth R. Woods (Louise) Horsham, PA, Donna Woods Ritting (Ray), Doylestown, PA and John Woods (Donna Huch) Dallas, TX. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren: Christian Woods of Lansdale, PA, Todd Ritting of Warrington, PA, David Woods (Amy) of Perkasie, PA, Dr. Drew Ritting of Hartford CT, Jennifer Woods Zwetolitz (Matthew) of Lansdale, PA, and Stefanie Woods of Hor-sham, PA; a great-grandchild, Audrey Elise Woods of Perkasie, PA; and a nephew, William T. Woods II of Emmaus, PA Funeral Services with interment will be held Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. with Full Honors in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. Memorial contributions in memory of Kenneth Woods may be sent to: National Parkinson Foundation, 1501 N.W. 9th Avenue / Bob Hope Road, Miami, Florida 33136-1494 or to the Macular Degeneration Foundation PO Box 531313, Henderson NV. 89053. To send online condolence's to his family please visit the Funeral Home website below. Schneider Funeral Home, Hatboro, PA www.schneiderfuneralhome.net